Paw patrol: Sony offers robocop dog at home

23 January 2019 - 11:11 By afp

Versions of Sony's puppy-sized robot dog "aibo", including a 2019 limited special colour model, left, are displayed during a press conference at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on January 23 2019. Sony will offer a "policing" service by its puppy-size robot dog to make sure family members are safe at home while you are away.
Image: Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP

Sony's puppy-sized robot dog aibo, equipped with cameras, artificial intelligence and internet capability, can now remotely check up on family members, children or even pets, the Japanese electronics giant said on Wednesday.

The 30cm robopup with flapping ears and cutting-edge LED eyes will roam around the home at pre-designated times looking for family members.

However, the latest canine tech does not come cheap, with a single dog costing nearly $3,000 for a three-year package, including software services such as data storage.

The owner will receive progress reports via smartphone in the service offered from next month in conjunction with home-security company Secom.

"You will be able to check how remote family members are doing or what children are doing when they get home," project chief Izumi Kawanishi told reporters at the Sony headquarters in Tokyo.